Atlanta Women’s Build 2011: Empowering Atlanta Women

Atlanta, GA (May 18, 2011) – A new Atlanta Habitat for Humanity home will be dedicated this Saturday, May 21st, 2011 at 12 pm. This home, built for new homebuyer Betty Smith and her family, is a special home sponsored by the Atlanta Women’s Build.

Construction of the home began April 2. Over the last seven weeks, more than 280 women from Atlanta business, civic, and social networks have partnered with Atlanta Habitat to build a home with the Smith family.

Women make up approximately 85 percent of Atlanta Habitat for Humanity’s homebuyers and the Atlanta Women’s Build will help support one woman-led household. This unique program helps close the gender gap by making homeownership as accessible to women as it is to men, who generally have higher incomes, fewer dependents and are better able to afford homes on the open market.

The Atlanta Women’s Build began more than a decade ago when a group of determined women raised more than $75,000 to sponsor a home built entirely by women volunteers. The passion and dedication of that inaugural group has continued and will be alive again this Saturday as we complete the fourth house built by the Atlanta Women’s Build group.

“This is one of the best ways to not only give something back to the community, but to empower the next generation of girls to make a difference in the lives of Atlanta families. I am proud that my girls will see me participating in this project and that children of Atlanta Habitat homebuyers around the city will benefit from the safety and security their homes provide,” says Alexandra Balzer, Atlanta Women’s Build chairperson.

After six Saturdays of hammering, shingling, and painting, the all-women volunteer team along with the new homeowner and her family will be putting the final touches on Ms. Smith’s home this Saturday. To celebrate the occasion, a dedication ceremony will be held on Ms. Smith’s new front porch.

Attending the dedication will be actress and philanthropist Lane Carlock Howard, and television anchor and hometown hero Brenda Wood, who have served as honorary co-chairs of the build. Also in attendance will be Kathy Betty, owner and CEO of the Atlanta Dream, and Candice Byrd, City of Atlanta Chief of Staff.

Planning is already underway for the 2012 house. The Atlanta Women’s Build Steering Committee plans to make this house an annual event. For more details on how to get involved, visit the Atlanta Women’s Build on Facebook.

Dedication Ceremony Details

Date & Time: Saturday, May 21st, 2011, 12:00 - 1:00 pm

Homeowner: Betty Smith

House location: 476 Perkerson Road, SW– Atlanta 30315

Street parking is limited and carpooling is recommended.

About Atlanta Women’s Build
The Atlanta Women’s Build is a grass-roots effort led by private individuals – all women – who raise the funds to sponsor an Atlanta Habitat for Humanity home. The Atlanta Women’s Build house involves women donors and volunteers in building the home and offers a unique opportunity to highlight the ways Atlanta Habitat empowers women to become homebuyers. Since 2003, Atlanta Women’s Build leadership has led the construction of four Atlanta Habitat homes, including the current home. For more information, contact Geneva Hall-Shelton, Atlanta Habitat Sponsorship Manager, at 404-429-6653 or go to the Atlanta Women’s Build Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AtlantaHabitatForHumanityWomensBuild.

About Atlanta Habitat for Humanity
Atlanta Habitat for Humanity, one of more than 1,500 U.S. affiliates of Habitat for Humanity International, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing affordable housing to working families. Since 1983, volunteers from corporations and from faith-based and civic organizations have worked in partnership with qualified homebuyers to construct affordable, green, quality homes, which are then purchased through no-interest mortgages. To date, Atlanta Habitat has built more than 1,100 homes in the city of Atlanta and the metropolitan area. For more information please visit www.atlantahabitat.org or call 404-223-5180.